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A confession: I handwashed a throw blanket for the first time the other day — after owning it for a year.

The dirty water had a disturbing greyish-beige tint, and it occurred to me the blanket I use on my couch probably needs a regular wash… especially as I have two fluffy pets who snooze there, and a parade of friends who spill drinks on it on a semi-regular basis.

How many other items should I be cleaning more regularly? My gym bag? Bath towels? What about my bras?

"The main risk from infrequently washed bathroom towels is when towels are shared and pathogenic bacteria are then transferred between people," adds Adelaide-based dermatologist Lachlan Warren, a fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

"This explains the benefit of not only regularly washing towels, but equally importantly, not sharing towels and thus not risking bacteria on towels contaminating others."

Another trick to minimise the spread of germs on your towels: between washes, don't be afraid to pop your towel in the dryer or on the line after use.

"Even though you haven't removed the germs in the wash, by drying them out you're preventing the germs from breeding," Ms Gardner says.

Of course, if your towels begin to smell, they're overdue for a wash.

Throw blankets

Image If you've got pets, regularly washing your throws is a good idea.(Unsplash)

Whether that throw blanket on your couch needs a regular wash depends on how densely it's made, how it's used and where you live.

The thicker and denser your blanket is, the more it might need a wash, explains Dr Jones.

"Things like throw blankets are usually a combination of synthetic and natural fibres. The thicker or denser they are, the greater the probability they have retained human sweat and dirt and debris from the air," he says.

"The more open they are, like an open weave, there is less surface area and therefore less available opportunity for this issue of cross-contamination."

Ms Gardner says that regular washing is also a good idea if you've got pets sitting on them; if you're in a really dusty environment; or if you live on a busy street (think: lots of trucks driving by while your windows are open).

Gym bags

Most of us don't wash our gym bags enough, according to Ms Gardner.

"People overlook it and don't realise the risks," she says.

Research shows there are lots of different germs lurking inside gyms, especially on exercise equipment, floor mats and handrails, explains Dr Jones. High-touch areas such as push-and-pull levers on floor-mounted equipment are particularly germy.

"This means that living forms of these microbes have the potential to cause exposure to susceptible individuals," he says.

If you're picking up those bugs on your gym gear and then dumping it on your bed at home, there's a small chance they could transfer there, he says.

Image There are lots of different germs lurking inside gyms, so be vigilant about washing gym gear and your hands.(Unsplash)

A more obvious way your gym bag can pick up nasties is if you're getting changed in the gym toilet stall, explains Ms Gardner. To minimise the risks, "always try to hang them up, even from the little lock handle," she says.

Even germier than your gym bag, though, is your gym towel. It can be a real breeding ground for germs — especially if you use it to wipe down sweaty equipment.

Bras

There are no hard-and-fast rules on how often to wash your bra, our experts say.

"Personally, I think every two to three wears, but it depends on how active you are and if you're a sweaty person or not, in which case it's probably better to wash it every day," says Rachel-Lee Anderson, an Australian YouTuber who makes videos about organisation and motivation.

Ms Gardner says the regularity should depend on how sweaty you're getting.

"In Melbourne you don't need to wash your bra every week, while in Darwin you'd probably be washing it daily," she says.

That's partly because if your bra is getting sweaty and rubbing against your skin, you run the risk of skin irritation.

There are other reasons to keep your bra clean, too.

"Close-fitting garments such as bras will accumulate bacteria depending on the character of materials, how much sweat and secretions are on the surface, and the type of bacteria and yeasts living on the skin," says Dr Warren.

"Some of these bacteria, when broken down, contribute to clothing and skin odours."

In other words: While your unwashed bra could cause a skin rash or infection, it's more likely it will develop a dodgy smell, which should be reason enough to head to the laundry.